Deputy Legislative Analyst Jason Sisney notes, in his report, that the governor's plan leaves many unanswered questions, such as how to address funding gaps in the state teachers' retirement fund.

But Sisney says the plan is an important effort to address future costs as well as the public's distress with the cost of retirement benefits.

The LAO report does take issue with Brown on a significant point. It says the idea of raising pension contributions for current workers is a legal minefield, since these issues were already agreed to at the bargaining table.

"It may not be worthwhile for the legislature to devote significant time..attempting to reduce current and past employees' retirement benefit costs," Sisney writes.

The state's labor unions certainly agree with that. They've agreed to givebacks in recent years, but show no interest in moving from their current defined benefit plans to a 401K-style plan like that offered by private sector employers.

The Legislative Analyst is advising the governor to focus on changes only for new employees. That will distress reform advocates who say it won't do enough to save money in the short term.

If all of this sounds like poor background for turkey, football, and Christmas shopping, you're right. Special session? It doesn't seem likely.